Colombian President Gustavo Petro, on Saturday stated that his son Nicolas had been detained in connection with a scandal involving Petro’s election campaign on suspicion of money laundering and illegal enrichment.
He stated that his son and his son ex-wife, Daysuris Vasquez has been detained using his official Twitter account, which has now be rebranded as X.
Vasquez claimed in March that Nicolas Petro had taken enormous sums of cash from drug dealers and traffickers in 2022 for his father’s eventually successful presidential campaign, but had instead spent it on a lavish lifestyle in the northern city of Barranquilla.
Petro wrote: “I wish my son luck and strength. May these events build his character and may he reflect on his mistakes.”
“As a person and father it hurts to see so much self-destruction,” he added.
The prosecution has verified the arrest of Petro’s son on money laundering and ill-gotten gains accusations. This initial offence also resulted in charges against Vasquez.
President Petro has denied receiving funds from the country’s powerful drug lords ever since the story surfaced. His own son was the subject of an investigation he requested.
In the northern Atlantic department, Nicolas Petro served as a lawmaker for his father’s party. Bank records demonstrating his substantial wealth compared to his Congressional salary were disclosed by the media.
